Have just arrived back from my first ever visit to Dublin! And to think it only took 2 hours by Sea Cat!!
I loved it there even as it was, slowly opening back up. The only major lacking was the live music in the bars of course 
.
I will definitely return there soon x
The Irish people remind me very much of the Welsh. They are incredibly friendly and warm and fiercely proud.
I lost count of how many pints of Guiness I consumed in the 5 days but I didnāt see Jem in any one of the many bars visited. However the dark liquid was sublime and so I toasted every time!
SlƔinte Jem and every other Irish person out there!
Baile Ćtha Cliath is amazing 
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Rhian, did you have a coddle? ā¦ no not wth a man, it is a lovely stew with bacon , onions, potatoes & probably a few other things and is a traditional dish in Dublin!
You had me wondering there for a min Twink.
@Rhian ā¦ got any photos? Iād love to see them if you have.
@Rhian Am envious. Weāve thought about going there, but never got round to it.
Out of idle curiosity, drive or public transport? Am guessing Holyhead.
@Morticia
Iāll try to filter the dross from the better ones later Morti
And then I can put some up here
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I remember crossing over to there in the summer of 2000 - car ferry - all the duty free prices had disappeared and we didnāt purchase anything. Landed at Dun Laoghaire and we were home and dry - toured south and north and caught the rail to Dublin and had a great day out there eating and drinking and visiting.
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@Twink55
I didnāt Twink for the fact that thereās meat in it!
But I did have some potato cakes in a place on the river Liffey one afternoon
Boy they were scrummy!
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You are just trying to make me jealous now Rhian ! 
I will have to make some now!
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Been there a couple of times. Wonderful city, and I just love the people. Once, Iād hired a car and was trying to find my way through the suburbs, totally lost with lots of roadworks going on, so lots of diversions in place - the mapbook was useless (this was long ago, way before satnavs).
In one traffic queue a woman jumped out of the car in front and ran up to us, knocking on the window. I wound it down and she said āAre you lost? Sorry, you just looked as if you didnāt know which way to go next and thought Iād ask if you needed any help.ā Bless her heart, I told her where I was trying to get to and she said āOh youāll never find that by yourself in this chaos, Iāll take you there, just follow meā. And she did. Once we got there, I got out of my car to thank her profusely and only then discovered she had been on her way to pick her teenage son up from his football practice. I was mortified, because now sheād be about half an hour late. āSure, itās no trouble at all, he can wait, heās a big boy now, it wonāt hurt himā, she said, laughing.
Yes, wonderful people 
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Iām delighted you enjoyed your visit Rhian.
Yes I miss the live music too, it always makes a good night better., but it will be back soon.
You didnāt see me as I was tucked away in the āsnugā of my local with three gorgeous girlsā¦ the wife 76, and two of her sisters 79 and 91, boy can they yap when they are together, so romantic listening to them talking about the cost of living, and the usual āI remember when you could go to the pictures, buy a tub of ice cream and a big bag of popcorn, get two loose woodbines, and then get the bus home, and all for sixpenceā, bless them, for I can remember it two. 
Dublin has changed an awful lot since I worked in the city centre, I get lost in it now meself. 
When I worked in a place on the quays I had to do a half days work on a Saturday, then when weād finish at 1pm weād all go into Jim Moranās pub at the Haāpenny Bridge (used to be owned by the singer Joseph Locke), we used to have the Welch lads over during the rugby season, there was always great craic in the pubs with them, they knew how to enjoy themselves and nicer fellas you couldnāt meet, ah happy days and great memories. 
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Indeed it is! So glad you enjoyed your trip, Rhian.
On the Luas?
On the Luas?
Not sure what that is @SilverTabby !
Train from Prestatyn to Holyhead
Irish Ferriesā Dublin Swift catamaran
And then a taxi to the hotel!!
The Luas is the very efficient Dublin tram service!
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Ah yes I did see it many times!! 
And yes it did seem an excellent, regular and clean tram service 
It is excellent. If you ever plan to go again it may be worthwhile to buy a āLeap Ticketā. They sell them at the Airport and most Information Centres - you can even buy them on line now! :-
[quote] The Leap Visitor Card is the most convenient public transport card available for tourists and visitors to Dublin. Get unlimited travel over your selected time period on Airlink, Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland routes in Dublin, Luas, DART and Commuter Rail. You can even travel to and from the Airport at the start and end of your trip without any additional charge. Leap Visitor is not valid on the Hop on/Hop off tour or other special tour services.
Depending on how long you plan on staying, you can choose from a number of options and find one that best suits your visit.
1 day (24 hours) ā ā¬10.00
3 days (72 hours) ā ā¬19.50
7 days (168 hours) ā ā¬40.00
Your chosen time period starts from the first time you use the card. [/quote]
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Glad you had a good time, though the letdown of missing Jem must be disappointing. No surprise that you were treated warmly, everyone Iāve ever met from Dublin are salt-of-the-earth.
I imagine the passage was sensational!
Pass the photos, please!
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Surfermom!
How lovely to see you back x
Yes photosā¦
Iāll get on it